Lenoir, Jones merge 911 systems

By Wes Wolfe, Kinston Free Press

Published: Monday, July 1, 2013 at 06:37 PM.

KINSTON — On Monday, operators at the 911 center on Rhodes Avenue in Kinston began dispatching first responders from both Lenoir and Jones counties — part of an overall $7.4 million merger of the two counties’ 911 systems.

“Starting July 1 at midnight, Lenoir County 911 will become Jones-Lenoir County Emergency Communications Center,” said Paige Johnson, communications operations manager for Lenoir County Emergency Services. “What that means is we’re going to be taking Jones County, their 911 calls, and making their dispatches. They will no longer have a PSAP (public safety answering point) in their county.

“We’re going to be taking all their 911 calls and doing all their dispatches. We’re not taking over EMS, we’re not taking over anything.”

The reason for the merger is to bring both counties’ systems to state standards. Jones County jailers who were cross-trained on 911 service had been staffing the county’s 911 center.

“This is a way we could get money to help do some upgrades to that (radio) system, as well as give us a backup center that we need, and then, in turn, Jones County would get a primary center that they need, so it was a win-win for everybody,” Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail told Lenoir County commissioners in November.

As one operator at the 911 center takes a call, within 90 seconds, another person dispatches law enforcement, firefighters or EMS.

“They’re going to be asked a series of questions — even though they’re being asked questions, someone else already has help on the way. But, they still need to answer those questions,” Johnson said. “They don’t need to think that, one, whoever’s on the phone is actually coming — that’s not the case. A lot of people think that.

KINSTON — On Monday, operators at the 911 center on Rhodes Avenue in Kinston began dispatching first responders from both Lenoir and Jones counties — part of an overall $7.4 million merger of the two counties’ 911 systems.

“Starting July 1 at midnight, Lenoir County 911 will become Jones-Lenoir County Emergency Communications Center,” said Paige Johnson, communications operations manager for Lenoir County Emergency Services. “What that means is we’re going to be taking Jones County, their 911 calls, and making their dispatches. They will no longer have a PSAP (public safety answering point) in their county.

“We’re going to be taking all their 911 calls and doing all their dispatches. We’re not taking over EMS, we’re not taking over anything.”

The reason for the merger is to bring both counties’ systems to state standards. Jones County jailers who were cross-trained on 911 service had been staffing the county’s 911 center.

“This is a way we could get money to help do some upgrades to that (radio) system, as well as give us a backup center that we need, and then, in turn, Jones County would get a primary center that they need, so it was a win-win for everybody,” Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Roger Dail told Lenoir County commissioners in November.

As one operator at the 911 center takes a call, within 90 seconds, another person dispatches law enforcement, firefighters or EMS.

“They’re going to be asked a series of questions — even though they’re being asked questions, someone else already has help on the way. But, they still need to answer those questions,” Johnson said. “They don’t need to think that, one, whoever’s on the phone is actually coming — that’s not the case. A lot of people think that.

“And, two, even though that person’s still asking you questions, that information is to help the responders for when they get there, whether it be law enforcement, fire or EMS.”

Lenoir and Jones counties are the first in the state to combine 911 services.